For the most part, the Penn State community has moved on from Michael Penix’s controversial touchdown at the end of the 2020 PSU-Indiana game.
In the opening Big Ten game of 2020, Michael Penix stretches for the 2pt conversion to give Indiana the win over Penn State in overtime. pic.twitter.com/LvLuXuNXWE
— The Get Back Coach (@TheGBCoach) June 29, 2023
It wasn’t an easy process.
Before Penix’s TD (or “TD” as many would call it), Penn State was coming off three 11-win seasons in four years and started 2020 in the top 10.
After the debates two-point conversion dive, Penn State lost the game in overtime by one point, started the season 0-1, which turned into 0-5, and ended the year with its first losing record since 2003. The next year, Penn State went 7-6, and for a while, many fans worried that “Penix to the Pylon” would be the play that kickstarted Penn State’s descent from a perennially good program to a perennially “meh” one.
That didn’t happen.
By the end of the 2022 season, Penn State was an 11-win team again and has a chance to repeat that feat this season.
Franklin’s opposite that day was the man he ended up hiring as defensive coordinator more than three days later.
As soon as Penn State hired Tom Allen as defensive coordinator, fans openly wondered if, at Allen’s introductory press conference, somebody would ask him if Penix’s knee was short.
Can wait till Tom Allen is asked about 10/24/20. PSU fans obsess whether Penix was in or not in OT. Game should have never got to OT. PSU had ball/1-pt lead with 1:48 left. Deep in IU territory. Franklin did not tell RB Ford not to score. Just fall down at 2-yd line to seal win. https://t.co/tPyq2gT6Gg pic.twitter.com/bbCbyTnwPu
— PennStateTicketExchange (@PSUtickets) December 18, 2023
Tom Allen should be forced to make a public statement admitting Penix Jr was out of bounds on the 2 pt conversion and Penn State rightfully won that game.
— Just Peachy Heather Ashley (@Nittanyqueen) December 18, 2023
Mike Poorman of StateCollege.com gave the people what they wanted, and Allen’s response was what one would probably guess.
“It was a touchdown,” Allen said.
“I get it. It depends on what glasses you’re wearing. It depends on who you’re cheating for, which sideline you were on. Obviously it was very contested both sides and reviewed and talked about to nausam. But I have a big, old picture in my office that shows that it was a touchdown back then. It would probably still be a touchdown today, probably still be considered a touchdown 20 years from now. So the bottom line is that it was a great game and a great win for the Indiana Hoosiers.”
